Firefighters Encourage People To Check Blood Pressure

They put out fires, and now firefighters in Sioux Falls are extinguishing high blood pressure.

The Sioux Falls Fire Department is lending its name to the Big Squeeze. The month-long project is kicks off on Tuesday and encourages people to get their blood pressure checked.

Chief Jim Sideras says he meets a lot of people who don't even know they have high blood pressure, which can lead to heart failure, heart attacks and strokes.

"We want to make it so convenient that people can stop in their local fire stations on that Saturday. Our firefighters are there and they'll take your blood pressure and you don't have to work around your schedules. With the Saturdays, they're always open for free," Sideras said.

You can get your blood pressure checked at your local fire station every Saturday in May from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.